Corn harvester tractor mounting means



Jan. 2, 1951 N. F. ANDREWS ET AL 2,536,899

CORN HARVESTER TRACTOR MOUNTING MEANS Filed Dec. 20, 1946 v Sheets-Sheetl j 1, g m "6 I8 [I I2 H2 BL 60 I 56 73-J1 8| FIG. I

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INVENTORS NORMAN F ANDREWS JOHN B. HAYES N. F. ANDREWS ET AL CORNHARVESTER TRACTOR MOUNTING MEANS Jan. 2, 1951 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledDec. 20, 1946 N oE INVENTORS' NORMAN F. ANDREWS *JOHN ATTORNEYS Jan. 2,1951 N. F. ANDREWS ET AL 2,536,899

CORN HARVESTER TRACTOR MOUNTING MEANS Filed Dec. 20, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet5 INVENTORS NORMAN F ANDREWS JOHN B. HAYES ATTORNEYS w g n elevafiapr'pivtal'ly munfd on the frame nejar the inner end th'reof d. extendsPatentea Jan. 2, 1951 7 OFFICE GQRN- HARVESTER "IJL, assi g'rmrs toneqre'aacompamr,

The present inventibn relate enefially' to agricurtural imple ents a d mr par icul l .to' implement-s of the tractor megnted type, and

has for its principal object the pro'yis'fion of novel andimp1QVed,means for supporfiing the implement n' fibe tractor and alsoforsuppdrfi-ng i11 impl ment on the round after it has be n di Ifidmit dfrom 5116 li -61 wIt 1 siliailfvle to rm de tracto rinwnteqimmemen s anmfians for supp g" them on the grcu'nd af er they have been dism unt dfrQm tli trac r, in such, an ps s" n matv fihdy may be uick y and e silymam 11160 a su'ifable pos fi n adja ent th implm nt,

the present nvsntion is giirected p rticular y tratorcprn harvest ng mfie 'i fs 1 th typ disclbssd inP ent'Nb- $337,592, ran ed D cfim be'r28,1.943, to c ulfias 4. 1 v D 'rt, fik' e pr ples loif this inventi r e nt ne ssar ly 11m do this partidular impIeman tor o he appl cat ons anduses of the principles of the present i e -tion will be app'a m tofihojsi skilled in t e art.

The i plem t shown in the above menjc ned d 9. 551 tr vr l "nd hasather' r uni ef"war'd1'y in an upwm ql'y' and rearwamly i nclined poisitoxi- As-discbsd n the pat n when iin" im mm-m is dismounted it can besuppprted on a speaiail firansfiort truck provided for holdin th innerend of the frame and also for supp rt ng he e eva pr normal position t:,.1 en-.t it from dr p 1. 122 is ground. Que of fh firincipal objectsof t e pre en-fi inv nt on re1ate s" to the pro ion of a builhihretractable upport-for the inn r end of t e rame ar h ld= mg the latterin a read ly tfi'achab ejposition \ait discpnn, "tion frQ ln the tractQLAn'othr 9161 1.053 rel tes to theprovision .qf-a supporting devi e whichserves to support h l va n normal inclined po t n during 01 enation inthe; field, the-sam supporting m n ,alisp" serving o sup ort th film/atll 9,1 the ground after fih? ,implsfiln Sfill the in i'fi i @Is T01 toev nt 51 1. age t latt rby en ageme t h edge 0m wag n ox dur n Qp' ra onn he e R1 he ac 'mpli' w i t s ObJectS, ms: F3 present -fl ntion sfiempla 's' he se 91' a4?? t-rac abls l g; W a trans ort no. the in, lin

I V .g ir' fu'ppd I 7 bein previqed t r xgofin 'sting the stirr to a suib @n h rag on 1 tra tor 9, T- im 'melit fram'e.

1 trac or beifilg of ccms-fiructiqfi;

Fi ure 3' i f agment ry ema ionfl 1?? show ng h ait0r s ppe fin devic a1- as position; w, F gu l S a E1 fllfkibibn l V WD fiid and 0 t etrasmp'an mp eme w o ing th atter n a disms untqd Po tion ehindile 40 fi acffland Y Figure v5 is fii na elvajfiidnal ew taken .i ig iiecha for $1efimstab r;

numeral I5 and comprises a frame including a main transversely disposedtubular beam I6 disposed behind the tractor 5 and having its inner endcarried on the tractor by means which will be described later. The beamI6 extends laterally beyond one of the traction wheels II and is carriedat its outer end on a ground engaging wheel I! mounted on a dependingaxle arm I8 attached to the outer end of the beam I5. The outer end ofthe beam I5 carries a harvesting unit 20 comprising a pair of gatherers2 I, extending forwardly from the beam I6 and rigidly fixed thereto andalongside the adjacent tractor wheel I I, and a pair of snapping rolls22 are mounted between the gatherers 2| in a manner well known to thoseskilled in the art and shown in detail in the Coultas and Dort patentmentioned above.

The inner end of the tubular beam I5 is fixed to a gear casing 25 whichis provided with a bracket 26 at its inner end, the latter rigidlysupporting a socket member 21 which is adapted to receive a ball 28having a, neck portion 29 rigidly fixed, as by welding, to a structuralsupport 30. The support 3!] comprises a framework including a U-shapedangle member 3| inclined upwardly and rearwardly from a transverse framemember 32, to which the two legs of the U-shaped member 3| are rigidlywelded. The transverse member 32 is rigidly mounted on the tractordrawbar frame 34 by means of a pair of legs 33 at opposite ends,respectively, of the transverse member 32. The U-shaped frame member 3|is also connected by a pair of forwardly diverging braces 35, 36 to avertical standard 31 secured by bolts 38 to the rear side of the tractoraxle housing 8, the housing 8 being provided with the usualimplement-supporting bosses 39 for receiving the bolts 38.

Thus, it is evident that the ball joint member 28 is rigidly mounted onthe rear of the tractor body 6 and supports the socket member 21 whichis rigid with the transverse beam I6, thus pivotally carrying the innerend of the latter on the tractor, while the outer end of the beam I6 iscarried on the wheel IT. The beam I6 is free to swing vertically aboutthe ball and socket joint 21, 28 as the outer wheel I1 travels overrolling ground. A second draft member 40 in the form of a tension linkis pivoted at 4| to a bracket 42 secured to the rear side of the axlehousing I I, the bolt 4| being disposed on a transverse axis providingfor generally vertical swinging movement of the link 40 thereabout. Therear end of the link 40 is provided with a transversely extending endportion 43 which is pivotally mounted on a lug 44 fixed to the tubularbeam I5. The link 4E! transmits draft force to the beam I6, whilepermitting vertical swinging movement about the ball and socket joint21', 2B.

The beam I6 is also rockable about its major axis to swing the gatherers2| vertically to adjust the clearance of the latter above the groundduring operation and also to lower the forward ends of the gatherers toa ground engaging position when the implement is dismounted, as will beexplained later. The tubular beam I6 is rocked by means of a link 45connected to a crank arm 46 secured to the rockshaft 41 of the tractorpower control mechanism, indicated in its entirety by reference numeral48. The rear end of the link 45 extends through an aperture in avertical frame member 50 which is rigidly fixed to the'transversetubular beam I6. A collar 5| is adjustably fixed on the rearwardlyextending link 45 and is adapted to engage the arm 50 when the rockshaft4! is rocked to swing the crank arm 46 rearwardly, thereby forcing thevertical arm rearwardly to raise the gatherers 2|. The gatherers 2|,however, are free to float along the ground, and by virtue of the lostmotion connection between the collar 5| and the arm 50, when thegatherers are forced upwardly by engagement with a rise in the ground,the position of the power lift arm 46 is not affected, but rather servesto limit the subsequent downward movement of the gatherers 2| to permitthe latter from dropping into a ditch or depression in the ground. Acounterbalancing spring 52 is connected at its rear end to a lug 53 onthe bottom of the tubular beam I6 and extends forwardly to a suitableconnection (not shown) beneath the tractor axle housing 1. Thecounterbalancing spring 52 is stressed in tension to urge the beam I5 ina direction tending to lift the forward ends of the gatherers 2| andthereby relieve a portion of the weight of the latter from the powercontrol arm 46, in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

During operation in the field, the tractor 5 draws the implement I5forwardly with the gatherers 2| straddling a row of corn, which isreceived between the snapping rolls 22, which snap the ears from thestalks and deliver the ears by means of a rearwardly extending earconveyor 55 to a transversely disposed husking unit 55. The husking unit56 is mounted on the transverse beam I 6 by suitable supports rigidlyfixed thereto and is positioned behind the beam I6'to partiallycounterbalance the weight of the gathering unit 20.

The inner end of the husk-ing unit 55 discharges the husked ears of corninto the hopper 60 of a wagon elevator 6|. The elevator 5| comprises acasing 52 swingably mounted on a transversely extending pivot 63 on apair of laterally spaced brackets 54, 65 carried on the tubular beam I6.The pivot 63 comprises a drive shaft for a sprocket (not shown) overwhich is trained an elevator chain 66 having longitudinally spaced earengaging paddles 51, which transport the ears longitudinally of thecasing 62 and discharge the same from the rear end of the easing into awagon 68 disposed behind the tractor. The elevator casing 52 is disposedin an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position having its upper ordischarge end disposed over the wagon 58. The wagon 68 comprises a wagonbox having a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced generallyvertical side walls 59, ID, the upper ends of which are inclinedoutwardly, and a pair of transverse end walls, the forward wall beingindicated at I I.

The Wagon 58 is provided with a pair of rear supporting wheels (notshown) and a dirigible front wheeled truck 12 having a draft tongue 13.The draft tongue I3 is coupled by means of a vertical pin 14 to a draftbar 75, the intermediate portion of which is pivotally supported on atransverse pivot pin 16 carried on the bracket 64. The forward end ofthe draft bar 15 is pivotally connected by a transverse pin 11 to a pairof lugs I8 mounted on the transverse frame member 32. Thus, the draftforce for drawing the wagon 68 is transmitted directly from the tractorthrough the draft bar to the wagon tongue 13. I

The elevator BI is supported in upwardly inclined relation duringvoperation by means of a pair of laterally spaced tension members 80, 8|disposed along opposite sides of the elevator casing 52, respectively,and having rear ends turned ammo outwardly at. 82 inserted through.suitable apertures d3 the sides oiia U-shapedistirrnp M The stirrup 8:4comprises. a plate which passes transversely under the elevator casing612 and has forwardly bent sides which extend along opposite sides ofthe casing 6f2,..I$DCtlVB1y,.'t0 receive the tension rods- 80, 8 I

The stirrup: 84- is: rigidly fixed, as by welding, to

asupporting leg 85 comprising a pair of laterally :spaced rods or rails86-, 81, which are pivotally connected to the bottomof the elevatorcasim; 52 try-means.- of. atransversehinge pin: 8&, the: rods "36; 81normally u derlying the elevator casing 6-2 in. a. position extending.upwardly from the hinge pin 88-. The two rods 86, Bl: are rigidlyintercon nected bythezstirrup 84 and by: a. transverse angle member 89at the free ends of the rods, thereby uniting the: rods. 85,81 into a-.rigid unitary structure which distributes the lifting iorcefrom thetension rods 80,. 81' along the: upper half of the ca ing 62 duringoperation.

The; tension rods 80,81 are interconnected by a. spreader lea-r QEahea-d of the elevator casing and the forward ends of the rods converge;to

term; an eye 96 to whichis. connected asingle link r.

9'] extending forwardly therefrom. The: forward end of the link 91' isswingablyconnected to a link bar 98 which is pivoted, at. 99: to a.lever I intermediate the ends thereof.. One end of the lever I100-pivotal'l-yconnected bya bolt I 01 to an ear I02 on a. link- I03 whichis pivoted at IM toan aperturedabar I65, the latter extending through aslot in. the upper end. of the vertical standard. 31:.

Apin: I06 can be inserted into. any of the. aper tures I0'I in theapertured bar I05 ahead of the yvcrtical member 31 to adjust the lengthof the rp nev m r tehold. the: elevator 6| at the proper inclination.

With the handle of thelever I00 in aforwardly extending position, as.shown in Figure 2, the pivot 99 is disposed inan overcenter relationwith respecttothe pivots I 0.I, I404,v thereby locking the lever inthatv position. It. will bev noted that in the. operating; or: transportposition of the leg 85, -therails or. rods 86. 81. protectthe bottom:of. the

elevator casing 62. against-damage-by contact with the upper edge. ofthe. wall. II when the. tractor runs into a. ditch. or other depressionin; the ground. Thus-,therails 86., 81 i. actas buffers as well asforming a cradle supportfor the upper .endof the elevator casing.v

leg; a; supporting theelevator. casing 62 in an. upwardly inclined.position when the implement is dismounted; from. the tractor, as best)shown in Figure 4. The leg 05 can be swung downwardly to-a.substantially vertical ground engaging posi-- ',tion after. the leverI01). is swung toarearwardly extending position,. as shown in- Figure3-, which has the effect of extending the tension. support for theelevator to provide a limited amountof slack in the: connection. The.leg. 85 is provided with a handle llfliextending; between the ends of.the.rai1s 85 81 bymeans of. which the: operator tically, disposed;structural. channel member slid 6 able vertically in a u-shap'edbracketII2 fixed to the-end bracket 26,. A ground .engageable wheel ,I I3 isjournaled on a bolt II- I on the lower end of the leg III. The leg isprovided with ;a. series of vertically spaced apertures II5, which areselectively engageable by a latch pin I I6 pivotally mounted on a pivotbolt I I1 extending between a pair of sidewalls I I8 on the bracket II2. The side walls II8 are provided with a pair of inwardly extendingopposed lugs II9 which are provided with recesses I on their undersidesto receive a pair of trunnions I2I extending laterally from a removablejack handle I22 which can be inserted between the side walls I 18 tojack the leg III downwardly into ground ongaging position. The end ofthe jack handle I22 is provided with a pin I23 which is insertablethrough a slot I24 in the bracket II2 into one of theopenings I I5, asindicatedin Figure 5, after which the handle I22 can be raised to urgethe leg member III downwardly after the latch pin H6 has been withdrawnfrom engagement with its. associated aperture H5. The trunnions IZIserve as fulcrums for the jack handle I22 during this operation, andvafter the leg III has been shifted. downwardly the distance between thetwo apertures I I5, the latch pin I I6 engages the next aperture tohold, the implement supportedthrough the jacket I I2 and pin IIS on theleg III. This lacking Operation is repeated until the weight of theimplement is transferred to the ground wheel H3 from the ball and socketjoint 21', 28. The jackhand-le I22 can then be removed and the implementis supported by means of the latch pin H6.

The power lift arm 46 is thenlowered to drop the forward end of thegatherers 2| upon the ground, to serve as a point of support for theimplement and the link' can then be disconnected from the arm i'fi andarm 50. The socket mem. ber 21 is then released from the ball 28 and thelink is disconnected from the beam I6 and tractor axle housing 7, afterwhich the tractor can be driven forwardly away from the. implement I5,vwhich is then resting in dismounted position upon the ground on its. twowheels IT, I'-I3.an'd on the forward end of the gathering .unit 28whil'ethe vertically swingable elevator casing 62 is propped upon itsleg- 85.

Power is transmitted from the tractor engine to drive. the: variousparts of the implement including. the snapping. rolls 22, the elevator55, the husking unit E i,. and the wagon elevator chain. 65, through apower takeoff shaft I25 which. projects rearwardly from the tractor bodyas is well known to. thoseskilled in the. art. The power. takeoff shaftI25 is splined to receive a suitably splined sleeve I26, which isconnected through a universal joint I21 to a hollow shaft of squarecross section I28 adapted telescopically to receive a square shaft I29connectedthrough a second universal joint I39 to a shaft ,(not shown).extendingforwardly from. thegear housing 25. When the tractor isv drivenforwardly away from the implement, the two telescoping shaft sectionsI28, I29 pull'apartto disconnect-the implement from the tractorpowertakeoff shaft I25.

We. claim: I

1. A harvesting. implement adapted tov be mounted on and dismountedfroma tractor and comprising a frame, mounting means'for'supporting one:end'of said frame on thetracton, a groundiengagingsupportingwheeljournalednear 7 another end of said frame, a gatherer unit mountedrigidly on said frame and normally carried in a position clear of theground during operation but engageable with the ground when the frame isdismounted from the tractor, a first ground engageable supporting legshiftable vertically relative to said frame and mounted near saidmounting means, means for fixing said leg to said frame at variouspositions of vertical adjustment, a wagon elevator mounted on said frameand inclined upwardly therefrom in a normal operating position withrespect to the frame, and a second retractable leg mounted on saidelevator and shiftable relative thereto from a raised operating positionto a ground engaging position to support said elevator in substantiallysaid normal position when said implement is dismounted and said frame isstably supported on said first supporting leg, said wheel, and saidgatherer unit.

2. A com harvester adapted to be mounted on a tractor and comprising aframe including a beam normally disposed transversely behind the tractorand extending beyond one side of the latter and a gatherer unitextending rigidly forwardly from said beam, mounting means forsupporting the inner end of said beam on the tractor,

"a' ground engaging supporting wheel journaled near the outer end ofsaid beam, a vertical leg disposed at said tractor mounted end of thebeam, a wheel journaled at the lower end of said leg, a bracket fixed tosaid frame in which said leg is vertically slidable, means for lockingsaid leg to'said bracket in various positions of vertical adjustment, awagon elevator mounted on said frame and inclin d upwardly therefrom ina normal operating position with respect to the frame, and a retractableleg swingably mounted on said elevator by means providing for swingingfrom a raised operating position to a lowered ground engaging positionto support said elevator in substantially said normal position when saidharvester is dismounted and said frame is stably supported on the groundon said vertical leg, said supporting wheel, and aid gatherer unit. 3.An implement of the class described, comprising a mobile frame, a wagonelevator pivotally mounted thereon by means providing for verticalswinging movement, a ground engageable support for said elevator forsupporting the latter when the implement is not in use, means shiftablyconnecting said support to said elevator providing for movement of saidsupport from a ground engaging position to a raised transport position,and a supporting element connected to said support, so constructed andarranged as to hold said support in said transport position andcoincidentally support the elevator itself through said support.

4. An implement of the class described, comprising a mobile frame, awagon elevator inclined upwardly and outwardly therefrom and pivotallymounted thereon for vertical swinging movement, a supporting legpivotally mounted on said elevator by means providing for verticalswinging movement relative thereto between a ground engaging supportposition and a raised transport position alongside the elevator, and asupporting element connected to said leg, so constructed and arranged asto hold said leg in said transport position and coincidentally tosupport the elevator itself.

5. In an implement having a mobile frame and a wagon elevator inclinedupwardly and outward- 1y therefrom and pivotally'mounted thereon forvertical swinging movement, the improvement comprising: a supportingmember carried by the elevator for movement between a first position inwhich it is disposed along the lower side of said elevator in transportposition and serving as a buffer to protect the elevator against damageby engagement with a wagon box and a second position in which it extendsdownwardly from the elevator to engage the ground and support theelevator, a stirrup member attached to said member and extendinglaterally to receive said elevator, and tension members connected tosaid stirrup on opposite sides of said elevator, respectively, andextending to a suitable connection with said frame for supporting saidelevator in inclined position.

6. In an implement having a mobile frame and a wagon elevator inclinedupwardly and outwardly therefrom and pivotally mounted thereon forvertical swinging movement, the improvement comprising: a supporting legnormally disposed along the lower side of said elevator in transportposition and serving as a buifer to protect the elevator against damageby engagement with a wagon box, a stirrup member attached to said legand extending laterally to receive said elevator, and tension membersconnected to said stirrup on opposite sides of said elevator,respectively, and extending to a suitable connection with said frame forsupporting said elevator in inclined position, said leg being shiftableto a lowered ground engaging position for supporting the elevator on theground when the implement is not in use.

7. In an implement having a mobile frame and a wagon elevator inclinedupwardly and outwardly therefrom and pivotally mounted thereon forvertical swinging movement, the improvement comprising: a supporting legnormally disposed along the lower side of said elevator in transportposition and serving as a buffer to protect the elevator against damageby engagement with 'a wagon box, a stirrup member attached to said'legand extending laterally to receive said elevator,v

tension members connected to said stirrup on opposite sides of saidelevator, respectively, and

extending to a suitable connection with said frame for supporting saidelevator in inclined position, and means pivotally connecting one end ofsaid leg to said elevator for vertical swinging movement of the legrelative to the elevator be tween said transport position and a loweredground engaging position for supporting the elevator on the ground whenthe implement is not in use.

8. The invention set forth in claim 7, including the further provisionthat said leg comprises a pairof rods pivotally connected at one end tosaid elevator and rigidly interconnected by said stirrup member.

9. In an implement having a mobile frame and a wagon elevator inclinedupwardly and outwardly therefrom and pivotally mounted thereon forvertical swinging movement, the improvement comprising: a supportingmember disposed along the lower side of said elevato in transportposition and serving as a buffer to protect the elevator against damageby engagement with a wagon box, detachable means for holding said leg insaid transport position, and means pivotally connecting one end of saidleg to said elevator v for vertical swinging movement of the legrelative to the elevator between said transport position and a loweredground engaging position for 9 supporting the elevator on the groundwhen the implement is not in use.

10. The invention set forth in claim 9, including the further provisionthat said leg comprises a pair of rails and means extending beneath saidelevator for rigidly interconnecting said rails.

NORMAN F. ANDREWS. JOHN B. HAYES.

REFERENCES CITED file of this patent:

Number 10 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Alger Apr. 21, 1868 MohrJuly 15, 1884 Brudevold Oct. 10, 1916 Coultas et a1 June 2'7, 1933Lindgren et a1 Oct. 15, 1940 Coultas et a1 Dec. 2, 1941 Coultas et a1.Dec. 28, 1943

